Ringing

Leader Abdulla Kaabi initiated by Dr. Brendan Kavangh

2007-04-29

Juan Carlos Fernández-Ordóñez

Juan Carlos Fernández-Ordóñez spent just over three weeks in Bahrain ringing migrants in April 2007. His trip was funded by a grant from the Ornithological Society of the Middle East (OSME) and The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland – Medical University of Bahrain (RCSI-MUB). Most of the ringing was conducted in Badaan Farm, a beautiful wall enclosed farm with grass circles, crops and a Palm Grove along the western shore of the Island. However other sites including several wadis were also netted on one or two occasions.

The spring migration was a bit patchy this year, hampered by high winds and sandstorms. On several days the nets couldn’t be opened. Non-the-less the three weeks netted 300 birds of 37 species, eight of these new to the project. A full ringing list for the three weeks can be viewed HERE

A number of interesting retraps was also recorded and fat and muscle scores showed rapid improvement as the birds fuelled up on the rich insect life at Badaan. At the same time the arrival of our breeding species, in particular the Rufous Bushchat and Eastern Olivaceous Warbler was notable with the first brood patches being recorded by the second week in April. Catching our breeding species allowed us to sex the birds which is useful in determining morphological differences between the sexes.

We caught many Kentish Plover chicks, our first little tern chick and saw the first clutch of graceful prinias fledged. Grey Francolin broods also appeared at the latter end of the second week.

Spring is a very brief affair in Bahrain. Over the three weeks the temperatures went from 27 to 37 degrees signalling the end of spring and the start of summer. We were sad to see JC go. His knowledge of moult and the racial distribution of many species is legendary and his persistence in the face of sandstorms and rising temperatures is commendable. For me personally, it was invigorating to have another ringer on the island and to exchange ideas and ringing techniques once again. Thank you to OSME and RCSI-MUB for making it all happen.

His visit has been of immense value and an outstanding success, we hope he will agree to more trips in the future. To VIEW some of the images (over 250) of birds in the hand click here or follow links at side additional ringing photos

Juan Carlos Fernández-Ordóñez and Dr. Brendan Kavanagh

Juan first tried all our normal sites but with the best returns from Badaan Farm he concentrated his major offensive there. The following images show different aspects of the farm environment

2007-04-28

Juan has just left Bahrain after undertaking a program of ringing as part of the Bahrain ringing Project under the auspices of Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Medical University of Bahrain and OSME

Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

Rufous Bush Chat brood patch - evidence of breeding

Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus

To view Ringing Project images, additional information and details follow link to right